Our Journey

The Melbourne Chargers were formed in 2009, with the purpose of creating a rugby team where new players could learn the game in an accepting environment, and returning players who had left the sport because of their sexuality could play openly.

We aim to contribute to the promotion and development of the sport of Rugby Union in Victoria and to provide a new and diverse social opportunity for same-sex attracted people and their allies.

Our Journey

The club began as a small band of dedicated players, based at the Footscray RUFC and playing within the existing teams and domestic competitions at Footscray.

That year, the Melbourne Chargers hosted the Purchas Cup, the Australasian inclusive and gay rugby competition. In addition. the Chargers travelled to Minneapolis to play as a joint team with the Sydney Convicts at the 2010 Bingham Cup, where the combined team took out the Bingham Bowl

In 2012, The Melbourne Chargers shifted host clubs to the Melbourne Rugby Club (The Unicorns), with home grounds at Orrong-Romanis Reserve in Toorak.

This shift coincided with the beginning of a substantial growth period for the Club, with the Chargers competing for the first time as an independent club at the 2012 Bingham Cup, held in Manchester, UK. The Melbourne Chargers were runners up for the Hoagland Cup.

The club has grown from strength to strength, playing competitively in the local Victorian domestic competition and international gay-inclusive competitions.

In 2014 the club reached the semi-finals in the local competition, and fielded two teams at the Bingham Cup in Sydney. The Melbourne Chargers A were ultimately successful in their division, taking out the Bingham Plate against the Brisbane Hustlers.

The Melbourne Chargers have continued to make a name for ourselves in the domestic and gay-inclusive rugby worlds. In 2015, history was made with the Melbourne Chargers playing the Sydney Convicts as a curtain raiser prior to a Melbourne Rebels vs NSW Waratahs Super Rugby game at AAMI Park. The Chargers won that game 38-24

At the 2016 Bingham Cup in Nashville, US, the Melbourne Chargers again fielded two teams. The Melbourne Chargers A were ultimately successful in taking home the Bingham Cup, becoming the reigning world champions of gay rugby

As the club continues to thrive, heading into another exciting domestic competition – and Bingham Cup in Amsterdam in 2018 – we take pride in the our journey, taking us to where we stand now.

Hard work from our players, members, supporters and coaches put us in good stead for the future, and our commitment to our values mean that we’ll continue to be a force for inclusion and diversity in sport for many years to come

About Us

The Melbourne Chargers formed in 2009 with the purpose of creating a rugby team where new players could learn the game in an accepting environment and players who had left the sport because of their sexuality could play openly.